Confronted By The Resurrected Christ

The First Easter Sunday Morning

Matthew 28

What is Easter to you -- just another religious holiday? A time when your wife, mother, or family member pressures you to attend church with them? Perhaps for you it is a bit more meaningful, -- it is a time for tradition. At Easter the family attends church, has a festive meal, or reunion. For some, it is about the children. At Easter the children get their special spring outfits, have egg hunts, and receive their annual basket of goodies! Perhaps a review of the first Easter morning will shed light on how this historic day should be viewed by us. In your heart and mind, return with me to that bright morning. Let’s walk through it and meet the people that were there, that witnessed it for themselves, and for us. 

The Women were Mourning (v. 28:1).

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. We need to see, as we think about these ladies, that there is, at first, nothing remarkable happening here. These ladies, filled with grief, were simply carrying out normal rituals for Jewish burial at this time. According to Jewish custom at the time, the body of a deceased loved one was anointed with oil, with spices and herbs placed on and around the body. This was done for both religious and practical reasons. Practically, the herbs and spices, though costly, were used to dampen the smell of a body decaying. Ceremonially, this was done as part of the mourning process, thus commending the deceased to the care of God and the body to the grave to await the resurrection from the dead. Despite the fact that Jesus had told them He would die and be raised from the dead, these women were not expecting to witness any amazing events. 

The Angel was Shinning (v. 2-3, 5-7).

And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. [3] His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. [4] And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. [5] But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. [6] He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. [7] Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”

Just as the birth of the Savior was announced by angelic messengers, so His resurrection from the dead is attended by a shining angelic being. This is most likely Gabriel or Micheal, since they are the ones named at other historic events. As Mary Magdalene and Mary made their way to the tomb to perform these acts of kindness on Jesus’ deceased body, they were stunned to experience the quaking of the ground and to witness the enormous cover stone being removed by a heavenly being. The angel of God rolled the stone away and sat on it, as if to say: "That’s nothing! Looking inside and you will see that the Son of God is no longer dead!" They were surprised, afraid, and filled with joy, in the same moment! 

The Guards were Trembling (v. 4).

And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. [3] His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. [4] And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.

Lest we think that these ladies simply made this story up, Matthew informs us that there were guards present. These men had been dispatched at the request of the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin to do this very thing -- to protect Jesus’ body and to witness in case someone tried to remove His body in order to say that He had arisen from the dead. Isn’t it ironic how unbelievers knew that Jesus had said that He would raise from the dead but His own disciples didn’t remember it? 

These men did become witnesses but not the kind the Jewish leaders expected. They witnessed Jesus’ actual resurrection from the dead. Instead of stopping His disciples from stealing the body of Jesus, they were frozen with fear as they watched a mighty angel singlehandedly remove the massive stone blocking the entrance to the tomb!

Jesus was Living (v. 5-9).

At this point, it is important for us to understand something. The angel didn’t roll the giant cover stone away to let Jesus out but to let the disciples in! Jesus was already gone! He was alive. He’d resurrected from the dead. He folded the grave clothes and placed them neatly to the side! He was now in the garden, where the tomb was located.

But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. [6] He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. [7] Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” [8] So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. [9] And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. [10] Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Some were Doubting (v. 17).

But some doubted. Perhaps, you have heard all of this before. Maybe you’ve heard it your whole life and you’ve doubted that such things really happened. There were some of Jesus own disciples that doubted. It’s okay to doubt. There’s nothing wrong with asking some questions and seeking answers. But the thing we need to know about doubting is that it is a road not a destination. There are some who doubt, like the disciples of Jesus, but hear the evidence given in God’s Word and believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They confess their sins to God and confess Jesus as Lord! These will arrive safely in the presence of God some day. Others doubt like the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin, they hear the testimony, see the evidence, and are confronted with the risen Jesus in the Word of God, but do not believe and will not inherit eternal life.  

Some were Worshiping (v. 8, 16-17).

So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. [9] And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. [10] Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”… Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. [17] And when they saw him they worshiped him…

Where do you fit into this? This happened! God’s Son was nailed to a Roman cross, buried in a borrowed tomb, and resurrected from the dead after three days and three nights. Are shaking because of fear, because you are not sure about these things? Are you doubting, oh, you claim to be a disciple but you really do not know Him? Friend, let me encourage you, as kindly as I can, to worship Him! Confess your sins and believe in Him and He will forgive you.  

Love You All in Christ, 

Pastor Scott